As an avid lover of home design and interiors, I love shopping and searching for the next new trend, must-have item, or place to find vintage furniture, and I very rarely do it without my dog, Eddie: he is my constant companion. My favorite flea market is Kempton Park in Sunbury-on-Thames, which is always full of dogs, and on Instagram, the most popular pictures are always of dogs or interiors.
This made me think what a great book it would make to combine the two. Contrary to the saying, “It’s a dog’s life,” the following pages will show that within these stunning homes the dogs are having a great time and holding center stage. Allowances are made in the design for their well-being and happiness, and they are a vital part of what makes the living space a real home; whether sitting on a designer rug or a smart sofa, it’s the dogs’ comfort that’s important.
The whole experience has been so much fun. Neither James, the photographer, nor I have worked with dogs before, but we found that there isn’t much a dog won’t do for a small piece of cheese or a treat. I have tried to show dogs in different environments and settings, but there was one thing they all had in common—access to all areas, with the home being as much the dog’s as the owner’s.
Eddie is a rescue dog, and so I also wanted to use this opportunity to expose the plight of many dogs globally; I hope that in some small way the efforts of selfless people and organizations are highlighted. If we can make a difference to one dog’s life, it will be worth it.
This project has been fascinating: visiting beautiful homes with all kinds of dogs has been inspiring and rewarding. Seeing dogs who have had a bad start in life now lying comfortably on the biggest bed or softest rug, or running through open fields and along the seashore, is especially uplifting. Watching how a dog can transform their owner’s life, too, is something quite special.
